I think that engineers have repeatedly underestimated the dangers of lithium-ion, Gorksi. Fifteen years ago, I interviewed Donald Sadoway of MIT and he predicted (in 1998) that engineers would need to be very, very careful with this chemistry, or it would cause problems. It now appears he was right.

It seems that everyone is having problems with these batteries at the same time. If this is new technology why wasn't it tested more rigourusly in the lab and test beds? Is this a case where sales said 'We have to be first and damn the torpedoes of failure."

It seems that everyone is having problems with these batteries at the same time. If this is new technology why wasn't it tested more rigourusly in the lab and test beds? Is this a case where sales said 'We have to be first and damn the torpedoes of failure."

That is a terrible story, tekochip, and I'm sorry for the loss of your friend. This illustrates why it's so important to make these technologies safe before putting them out there on the market. I actually think sometimes these type of electric systems in new cars can do more harm than good especially in situations of a malfunction in which someone wants to get out of a car, which your story very sadly shows.

What a terrible incident. Yes, it's one more reason why potential car fires should never be overlooked. But it also says something about the non-intuitive nature of some of the systems on board today's vehicles. If the doorlock system had been more intuitive, your friend would almost certainly still be alive today.

Car fires should never be overlooked. A number of years ago a good friend of mine died in a car fire. Bob had borrowed a car and was unfamiliar with the electric door locks which locked as soon as the vehicle was put in drive. Pulling on the door latch would not unlock the door, you had to pull the lock pin or use the door switch, then pull on the latch. The power steering pump on the car seized and started a fire that quickly filled the interior with smoke. The autopsy said Bob died in less than thirty seconds from the toxic fumes, and witnesses said that he was pounding on the windows trying to get out.

Thanks so much for that description of the thermal runway, Phil. I understand the issue so much better now. It's interesting to consider the root of the problem and the ways the industry is working to counteract that.

Yikes, I didn't know those statistics about car fires, dbg. It is a bit scary. And yes, battery designs can be made safe, but it seems like some of them haven't quite gotten there yet. I'm sure they will.

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